This Homemade Sloppy Joe Recipe is super easy to make with a simple homemade sauce and ground beef. That messy saucy goodness you get with sloppy joes has this cozy vibe that makes them a total comfort food!
Our Family Favorite (Not So Sweet) Sloppy Joes
Whether it’s a casual weeknight, a laid-back weekend, or a quick dinner in a pinch, these sloppy joe sandwiches bring a delightful combination of sweet, tangy, and savory flavors that are hard to resist. Plus, they’re super easy to throw together even on your busiest days!
This recipe is one of my go-to’s when I’m in a time crunch or simply didn’t plan ahead and need a quick dinner idea.
With a handful of simple ingredients (and none of them is brown sugar), this recipe is easy for any cook. Even if you’re not a seasoned chef, you’ll find it straightforward and totally satisfying.
Yes, sloppy joes are messy, but MMM, they’re so good!
Ingredients for Homemade Sloppy Joes
If you want to make this sugar-free, check your BBQ sauce and ketchup ingredients to make sure there’s no sugar hiding inside!
- Ground beef – we prefer ground beef with more fat like 80/20 lean-to-fat ratio (or even more)! Lean ground beef (like 90/10) won’t be as greasy, if you prefer less fat (and mess!).
- Onion – a large diced onion. If actual onion pieces in your food is not something you’re fond of, you can swap with a teaspoon of onion powder.
- BBQ sauce – we’ve been liking Blue’s Hog lately (though that’s always subject to change!). Primal Kitchen makes a BBQ sauce and ketchup with all “real” ingredients that I’d like to try!
- Ketchup – your favorite kind.
- Mustard – yellow mustard
- Worcestershire sauce
- Salt (and pepper, if you wish!)
Find the full recipe on the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post!⬇️
Supplies we used:
- Skillet – I used my OXO stainless steel pan similar to this one
- Measuring cups and spoons and a spatula or two
- Meat chopper – a meat chopper is great to have for chopping ground meat into fine pieces
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How to make our Easy Homemade Sloppy Joe Recipe
Heat a large skillet on medium-high heat on the stovetop. Add about a tablespoon of olive oil and the diced onion and sauté for a few minutes, until they get a nice toasty look to them.
Turn the burner to medium heat, add the ground beef and cook, chopping into fine bits while it cooks. (Option: after the ground beef is cooked, drain away excess grease, by dumping the meat into a colander.)
Add the remaining ingredients and stir well. Turn the burner to low and simmer the meat mixture for a few more minutes before serving.
Serve on hamburger buns (extra perks if they’re homemade!) with mayonnaise, cheese and an extra drizzle of ketchup if you wish. Enjoy!💛
How to Store Sloppy Joes
Store any leftover sloppy joe meat in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
How to Reheat Sloppy Joes
In the oven: preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the leftover sloppy joe mixture in an oven-safe dish and cover it with foil to keep moisture in. Heat for about 20-25 minutes or until hot, stirring halfway through. Reheat the buns separately by toasting or warming in the oven for best texture.
In the microwave: for a speedy option, warm the sloppy joe meat in a microwave-safe dish. Heat in 1-minute intervals, stirring between, until fully heated.
On the stovetop: reheat the filling in a skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally until hot.
Tips, Tricks & Notes
- Brown that meat well. I like to brown the ground beef until it gets those dark brown bits on it. If you’re not using a non-stick pan, like in my case, you can add just a drizzle of water to the pan to de-glaze it if the meat starts to stick!
- If you like things with a little spicy kick, add some chili powder, red pepper flakes or hot sauce while simmering. It’s an easy way to personalize the dish without overhauling the recipe.
- Try different breads. I used homemade buns today, but you can use slider rolls, hoagie rolls, or even lettuce wraps instead of hamburger buns.
- Toast the buns in a little bit of butter in a pan, for more flavor and to keep your bread from getting too soggy when you scoop the sloppy joe mixture on top!
- Add more fun ingredients! Such as: diced bell pepper, a little bit of tomato paste or tomato sauce for a deeper tomato flavor, minced garlic, and so on. I like to use recipes like this one as a guide, and add whatever else I feel like adding in the moment when I’m making it!
What to Serve with Sloppy Joes
French fries, potato chips, classic coleslaw, a simple side salad, are common sides served with sloppy joes. Here’s a few more ideas:
Desserts to Serve with Sloppy Joes
More ground beef recipes:
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Sloppy Joes
This Homemade Sloppy Joe Recipe is super easy to make with a simple homemade sauce and ground beef. That messy saucy goodness you get with sloppy joes has this cozy vibe that makes them a total comfort food!
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 onion, diced
- 1/4 cup BBQ sauce
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1 tbsp. mustard
- 1 tsp. Worcerstershire sauce
- 1 tsp. salt
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet on medium-high heat on the stovetop. Add the diced onion and sauté for a few minutes, until they get a nice toasty look to them.
- Turn the burner to medium heat, add the ground beef and cook, chopping into fine bits while it cooks. (Option: after the ground beef is cooked, drain away excess grease, by dumping the meat into a colander.)
- Add the rest of the ingredients and stir well. Turn the burner to low and simmer for a few more minutes before serving.
- Serve on hamburger buns (extra perks if they're homemade!) with mayonnaise, cheese and an extra drizzle of ketchup if you wish. Enjoy!💛
Notes
Store any leftover sloppy joe meat in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 367Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 101mgSodium: 1051mgCarbohydrates: 14gFiber: 1gSugar: 10gProtein: 31g
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
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’til next time,
We love you and we’ll be praying for you,
Julie
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